Shotgun Regulations
Shotguns may be used to hunt forest and upland game, coyote, fisher, fox, nutria, opossum, raccoon, skunk, woodchuck and migratory game birds, with the restriction that the magazine and chamber must be capable of holding no more than 3 shells total except for deer hunting, where the number of shells is restricted to 8.

Shotguns larger than 10 gauge may not be used to hunt waterfowl and coots.

Nontoxic shot larger than No. T (.20 inches in diameter) may not be used to hunt waterfowl and coots.

The possession or use of lead shotgun ammunition while hunting waterfowl, coots, snipe, and rails is prohibited.

Deer hunters using shotguns must use a pumpkin ball, rifled slug or sabot. Buckshot may not be used to hunt deer except in Dorchester County, where #1 size buckshot or larger may be used. The use of shotguns smaller than 20 gauge for deer hunting is not permitted.

A person hunting turkey in the spring season shall be restricted to only using shot sizes #4, #5, or #6. A person hunting turkey in the fall season shall be restricted to only using shot sizes #4, #5, or #6 or a single projectile.

Rifle Regulations

It is unlawful to hunt with an automatic firearm capable of firing a series of shots with one continuous pull of the trigger.

Rifles used for deer hunting must use ammunition developing a muzzle energy of at least 1,200 foot pounds.

Firearms used for deer hunting may not have an ammunition clip loaded with more than 8 cartridges or bullets. If a clip has the capacity to hold more than 8 rounds, the clip does not have to be physically blocked, but no more than 8 cartridges or bullets may be loaded.

Rifles may be used to hunt forest game (except turkey during the spring season), upland game (except dove and woodcock), crow, nutria, and woodchuck and certain furbearing species.

It is only lawful to hunt with ammunition of soft point (expanding) construction. All military, full metal jacketed, incendiary or tracer bullets are prohibited.

Breech-loading rifles may not be used to hunt deer in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Frederick (in that portion of Frederick County lying south of a line beginning at the Washington/Frederick County line at US Rt. 40 and continuing on Rt. 40 east to Harmony Road, proceeding south on Harmony Road to I-70, following I-70 east through Frederick County), Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s and Talbot Counties or in Worcester County as follows: (1) within one mile of any school, (2) within that portion of South Point lying south of a line beginning at the west end of the Sinepuxent Bay Bridge on State Rt. 611, then by and with the south side of Rt. 611 to the junction of the South Point Road going south for a distance of .6 miles to a point opposite the southern boundary of the Ocean City Golf and Yacht Club property on the west side of the road, then by the southern boundary of the Ocean City Golf and Yacht Club to Trappe Creek and (3) within that portion of the land lying south of a line beginning at the mouth of the St. Martin River northwest to the junction with Shingle Landing Road, then by and with the south side of Shingle Landing Road to the junction with State Rt. 113, then by and with the east side of Rt. 113 to the junction with Rt. 589, then by and with the east side of Rt. 589 to the junction with US Rt. 50, then by and with the north side of Rt. 50 to the junction with Assawoman Bay, then by and with the west boundary of Assawoman Bay to the junction with the St. Martin River.

Muzzleloader Regulations

Muzzleloading rifles and shotguns may be used to hunt forest game, upland game (shotgun only for dove and woodcock), coyote, fisher, fox, nutria, opossum, raccoon, skunk, woodchuck. Muzzleloader shotguns, with non-toxic shot only, may be used to hunt waterfowl, coots, rails, and snipe. Muzzleloading rifles may not be used to hunt turkey during the spring season.

Muzzleloaders used for deer hunting must be at least .40 caliber in size and use not less than 60 grains of black powder (or a black powder equivalent) and propel one all-lead, lead alloy or copper soft-nosed or expanding bullet or ball at a single discharge. Sabot loads are legal.

It is permissible to hunt deer with a muzzleloading rifle or shotgun in all counties. Telescopic sights may be used on a muzzleloader during Firearms or Muzzleloader Seasons statewide.

Flintlock, percussion cap, and inline ignition muzzleloaders are legal hunting devices. To be considered a muzzleloader, a rifle, shotgun or handgun must be loaded from the muzzle, and a revolver must be loaded from the front of the cylinder.

Hunter Education and Safety Requirement
To hunt or purchase a hunting license in Maryland, state law requires:

Presentation of a Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunting Safety (required for junior licenses), or

Certification that you held a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1977, or

Certification that you hunted on private property prior to July 1, 1977, and were legally exempt from purchasing a hunting license, or

Certification that you are purchasing a nonresident license and will only hunt waterfowl.

Exception: Compliance with the Hunter Education and Safety Requirement does not apply to those shooting under a Regulated Shooting Area Hunting License.

Note: RESIDENT Junior Hunters (under 16 years of age) will be entitled to a one-time FREE annual hunting license, bow stamp, and muzzleloader stamp upon successful completion of a Hunter Safety and Education course (bring form provided by course instructor to any DNR Licensing and Registration Service Center).

Trapper Education
Effective August 1, 2007, any person who is trapping or attempting to trap furbearers (beaver, coyote, fisher, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, red fox, river otter, and skunk), under the authority of a Furbearer Permit must first obtain a certificate of trapper education from the Department (or a designee of the Department), except that the certificate is not required if the person held a Furbearer Permit during the 2006-07 trapping season (prior to August 1, 2007). Trapper education courses will be held statewide beginning in 2007. Any similar certificate issued by another state is acceptable as complying with the educational requirements if the privileges are reciprocal for Maryland residents.

Full Season Hunting License
Allows you to hunt all legal game birds and mammals in season without the need for additional stamps, except: (1) deer during bow season; (2) deer during muzzleloader season; (3) migratory game birds; and (4) furbearers. A Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp may also be used with these licenses.